The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums

by David E. Boruchowitz

The key to becoming a dedicated aquarium hobbyist is to succeed with your first aquarium. The Simple Guide to® Freshwater Aquariums concentrates on providing you with a complete plan and all the information you need to choose and use the right-for-you aquarium equipment and the right-for-you fish and it wants you to succeed. The information is presented in a completely straightforward text that's easy to read, easy to understand - and very definitely easy to put to good use.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Animals, Science Nature

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Denise みか Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is, overall, an excellent start-up manual for the first-time fish owner, I incorrectly assumed the title “Freshwater Aquariums” meant the book would include advice for goldfish. Unfortunately for me, the only mentions of goldfish were generally to warn the reader away from them (too complicated for a beginner to care for). I didn’t find the book unhelpful, I just wish the title had been more specific, perhaps including the word “tropical” to indicate what type of freshwater fish the reader would be learning about.

That said, I still found many good tips which I was able to apply to my goldfish tank and my fish rearing skills undoubtedly improved thanks to this book. My personal “aquarist” (new vocabulary!) journey started when I was a small child. My family had fish tanks for as long as I can remember and when I moved out on my own, I eventually inherited one of those tanks and spent many long years keeping fish in it. Eventually, I realized my organic, home-grown knowledge of fish-keeping wasn’t cutting it--my fish kept getting sick and dying--so I turned to reading books such as this one to relearn everything that I had been doing wrong. This book was undeniably helpful, even despite its not dealing with the type of fish I kept, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about keeping pet fish, whether they have no experience at all or if they’re like me and need to brush up on or relearn the basics. Everything is well-organized, easy to read, peppered with interesting asides and bonus tips, and the full-color photographs really help bring the book and its lessons to life.

Earlier this year, I realized my lifestyle and goals had changed so much that keeping fish had become more of a burden than a joy. Luckily, my youngest sister was looking to add another tank to her home (just as the book warns, you can get addicted!) so I’m passing my aquarium and all related supplies, including this book, onto her. I think, seeing as how she’s had the same experience as me with fish tanks, she will also find the information here to be practical, easy to understand, and enlightening.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't seen this second edition, but the first edition was excellent! It's the best book if you're a beginner in the hobby--and not a bad one even if you've had some experience. It gives clear explanations for how to purchase, set up, cycle, stock, and maintain an aquarium. All the advice has been spot-on.

One of the things in particular that made this book stand out to me was in the stocking advice, something other books seemed to lack. It gives examples of recommending varieties of fish, and how many, you can do in maybe a 55-gal tank, or different ideas if you have a smaller or bigger tank. It also lists fish to avoid at all costs--again, something most books don't do.

Hey, I gave my copy to my mom and she actually read it from cover to cover and got it! This is THE best book on the market for a basic overview.

[Anne Lundquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked his emphasis on keeping things simple and his suggestions about which combinations of fish go together well.

[Laura Gilfillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be very helpful, and useful as a go to reference for keeping an aquarium. The author stresses the importance of water changes, along with proper feeding practices, and common problems to watch out for.

[Paul Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reference book for freshwater aquariums. It addresses everything from hardware, cycling, maintenance and breeds of fish.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of our master plan for rearranging our daughter's room, we went shopping the other day for aquarium stuff. The Petco worker was actually surprisingly helpful and didn't try to sell us junk we didn't need (we did some research before going in so that we wouldn't get pressured). On our way out, he suggested this book as a good beginner's guide to starting up an aquarium. We almost put it back, but decided that it could be worth it, if only for the pictures of fish that Ellie could look at until we get the tank set up. It turned out to be a very good investment.
The book is arranged in four parts. Part One gives an overview of why so many beginners fail to keep fish, and how to avoid those pitfalls. We'll definitely take the advice to heart and try our best not to set ourselves up for failure. Part Two goes over the various parts you need for a tank, including a comprehensive review of filters and how to keep your fish alive in what could end up as a glass box with a bunch of fish poop. Part Three gives advice on setting up your tank, especially warning you to not just throw your fish in a tank and hope they make it. An aquarium is a delicate balance, and this part of the book does a good job explaining how to get that balance just right. Part Four finally goes into what kinds of fish are out there, and how to go about introducing them into your aquarium. You definitely need to read Part Four before setting the aquarium up, as your choice of fish can affect the initial setup of the aquarium.
I read the book pretty quickly over the weekend, after our trip to the pet store, and it's definitely worth the money if you're looking at getting started with your aquarium. It already saved us about $40 after we decided that we didn't need that expensive air pump after all. We're looking forward to setting the aquarium up over the next couple of weeks, and hopefully we'll have a happy school of tetras swimming around in there soon!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a bunch of really interesting plans for stocking either a 29 or 55 gallon tank, which are the 2 sizes the author recommends for a beginner.

I am nearly done stocking a 29 gallon with stocking scheme #1: platies (I have sunset wagtails), danios (mine are zebra), lemon tetras, and soon some cory cats. The book briefly mentions fishless cycling. I found an article on aquariumadvice.com that was a big help:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/article...

Otherwise I pretty much followed the advice in The Simple Guide and my fish are doing great. I would love to get a 55 gallon tank as well and try another of Boruchowitz's stocking schemes. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in starting a freshwater tank.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're just starting out with fish and aquaculture? Forget an 8 or 10 gallon tank and start with 50 gallons... which weighs a quarter of a ton when filled. Call a structural engineer to reinforce the joists in your floor. This is an introductory book?! I'm having a laugh as I make notes of the truly helpful tips.
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Update upon completion: Boruchowitz loves fish keeping and his enthusiasm shines through his writing. Although many (most?) amateur hobbyists won't take all of his advice to heart there is a LOT of good information to learn. I will be using this guide as my go-to reference.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boruchowitz does an excellent job of guiding the novice through critical steps in setting up a successful aquarium, and does it in a clear, easy-to-read way. While it's clear his enthusiasm runs deep, and he knows more than he writes, I appreciated his commitment toward clarity and simplicity where possible, giving enough info for a person to get a start at keeping fish without going overboard and getting bogged in too much detail.

[Stephanie Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much information. I'm hoping it will help me set up a pretty little aquarium.

My first attempt at cycling my aquarium failed. My fish got sick and died, but I'm blaming where I got my fish. They didn't live two weeks. My second attempt is going much better. It's been a month and not only are my 4 platies still alive, but I have babies and spontaneous snails.

[Landon Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable Resource for Beginners

I have no doubt veteran aquarists will benefit from this book, but without a doubt, this is a must read for the beginner. The information is highly needed and the suggested stocking at the end is extremely helpful.

[Roni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm setting up an aquarium for the first time and this book has more than enough information on how to be a successful aquarist!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an okay book for the beginner, and it has a great deal of useful information. More experienced aquarium enthusiasts will find it lacking.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of a cool book. It was laid out like a scrapbook, which was kind of fun.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrea's review: yeeuup, Jake got a fish tank.

[Jack Skubal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is enough information to succeed with the freshwater aquarium hobby, but not so much as to overwhelm those new to the hobby, with comic relief here and there to keep it interesting.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very informative book for those looking to get into the freshwater fishkeeping hobby.

[Brian Vent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about setting up an aquarium. No wonder my other attempts failed.

[Hilary]

A must read BEFORE you buy and set up your tank. Well written, easy read!